Westside stymies Katy 7-1Ace Mengden comes through on mound, at plate

Published 5:30 am, Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Westside pitcher Daniel Mengden allowed two hits in six innings and drove in a run.

Westside pitcher Daniel Mengden allowed two hits in six innings and drove in a run.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea: Special To The C, For The Chronicle

Mengden pitches Westside past Katy in bi-district game

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The variance in breaking balls from Wednesday night’s dueling pitchers was drastic.

When Westside ace Daniel Mengden fired that pitch, the results were lethal. When Katy starter Dylan Gaffney tossed the same, the results were lackluster — such as his first pitch of the night that nearly decapitated Mengden.

Despite the close encounter, Mengden settled down and pitched a gem, striking out 11 batters to pace Westside to a 7-1 victory over Katy at Mayde Creek High in Game 1 of the bi-district showdown.

“I didn’t get to finish it all the way, but I hit my spots and got a clutch double play in the fifth inning,” said Mengden, who allowed two hits and walked three batters in six innings. “But it’s the same mentality for me in the postseason, it’s a baseball game and I made my pitches.”

Although the Wolves ace was masterful from the mound, he was equally as effective in the batter’s box. He finished 1-of-2 with one RBI and his pinch runner managed to score two runs.

But J.T. Cherry got the offense going in the first, doubling to left field to score the game’s first run. Mengden and Michael Resnick quickly contributed in the ensuing inning, notching RBIs to build a 3-0 lead.